Information Sourced From: Ian Rapoport, Woodward Sports, SFData9ERs, Detroit Lions PR, Tom Pelissero, Al Karsten, Detroit Lions on X, Pro Football Reference
Thank you all for your patience as I continue to navigate some tricky health issues. Let me quickly echo (before we get into the Lions), to please pay attention to your health. Your body ages before you know it! Anyways, let’s get into it and review and number of pieces of news that have dropped while the Lions have been taking a well deserved week of rest, recuperation, and retooling.
The Packers are Coming: With Josh Jacobs
Let’s start by talking about the elephant in the room. Given that Josh Jacob’s situation is still in flux, the NFL has decided to lean on the league’s personal conduct policy standard exemption from playing for 6 weeks. This means that when the Lions play the Packers, Jacobs may suit up. Personally, I welcome it from a competition standpoint. The Lions have been shaky on defense, and they need to be challenged. However, this game no doubt would have been an easier task without Jacobs.
The pressing question that comes to my mind is, is he game ready? Is his conditioning to par? Does he have any limitations from injuries sustained during personal training? I never hope for players to get hurt, however these are legitimate questions which should become clear as we head into the upcoming week. Tom Pelissero has reported that Jacobs will play, but the question is, how will he play?
A New Return Man in the House
With the injury to Tom Kennedy, the Lions have added veteran wide receiver / return specialist DeAndre Carter to their practice squad. Per Al Karsten, Carter spent a short amount of time with the Philadelphia Eagles at the same time that Lions Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp was with the Eagles. Expect Carter to immediately compete for the return job, as Dan Campbell has stated that he does not want to have Amon-Ra St. Brown returning punts in the long term. Though the job will not be un-contested, nothing is given on the Lions, it is earned.
It is notable to state that per Pro Football Reference Carter has amassed many more receiving yards than Kennedy ever amassed. However, he does have 8 years to Tom Kennedy’s 6 years. But the numbers are much higher (1331 yards for Carter, to Kennedy’s 231). Only time will tell if Carter will win the job, and if he will be able to fill Kennedy’s shoes.
3 Players to IR, Net One Spot
The Lions announced this week that Ben Bartch, Tom Kennedy, and Devin White have been placed on injured reserve. Word around X and other sites is that Kennedy and Bartch are done for the season, with White likely returning in the week 12-13 range. The timing makes sense, with Brian Branch and Cade Mays coming back next week. The question is, what do the Lions do with their final roster spot? They can elevate DeAndre Carter from the practice squad for three weeks, so perhaps another DB joins the group?
Scruggs or Mays?
It would be a disservice not to talk about the return of Cade Mays, while Juice Scruggs is playing some of the best football of his career. The Lions offensive line has looked good. The question is, do you let the contract dictate the player who starts at the critical position of center? Sure, Cade Mays is paid a lot more. However, when you have an offensive line that is gelling like the Lions is, you often don’t want to mess that up.
If I were Dan Campbell, I would hold pat and make Cade Mays one of the most overpaid backup offensive linemen in the league. It will only allow Cade Mays wrist to get stronger and stronger, and seems to me to be the smartest move.
Trade Leverage
Everyone has been biting at the bit for the Lions to trade for someone on the bye week. However, I think this is where leverage is holding Holmes’ hand. You see, everyone knows the Lions need another player in their secondary right now, making prices high. However, the closer we get to the week 8 trade deadline, the more leverage Holmes gains. Teams who are struggling and have players on one year deals will be more inclined to move those players for less. I expect to see Holmes do something before the deadline, the question is what?
Also, given that Joey Porter Jr. has not yet played a game as a Cowboy, and that he did not sign a contract with them, I think we can all agree that the Lions dodged a bullet on that trade.
The Defense is Hurting, but Pressure is Not the Problem
A couple of feel good stats from the wonderful people over at Woodward Sports. Not only do the Lions lead the NFL in sacks currently, but D.J. Wonnum holds the highest pressure-to-sack conversion rate in the NFL at 45.5%. Alim McNeil has returned to, and exceeded previous form. Tyleik Williams is working out very well. Skyler Gill-Thomas is doing his part. The Lions finally have a formidable pass rush.
Look for the Lions to try to heavily pressure a shaky Packers offense. Yes, they did just lay one on the Bears. However, they have had their share of struggles, and I expect we will rush four a lot against the Packers. Given our staffing, it could prove a problem. On top of that if Jacobs returns, this line should be capable of helping to (sometimes) prevent him from getting to the second level of the defense.
… The Defense Also Isn’t Missing Tackles
To build on the good the defense has done, the Lions boast the lowest missed tackle rate in the NFL currently at 3.0%. This shows the discipline that some of the defense is playing with. Personally it gives me a bit of hope that if the secondary can get their stuff together, this defense can really be something. We’re just missing a couple of pieces. I don’t think it is as bad as it looks on paper.
So Can The Secondary Stack Performances?
The Lions secondary took a big step in Arizona. I have heard a number of people state that “oh this is the Cardinals, that’s the reason they did well”. Now I’m sure that has some to do with it. However, the space between a good team and a bad team in the NFL isn’t quite as big of a dearth as you might think. Brissett is a decent QB, and the Lions had his number, as they should have. Look to the Packers game to see if the changes implemented in the Cardinals game can hold up and at least calm things down.
The Glaring TE Problems
You don’t need stats for this one. You simply need eyes. The Lions are struggling to defend tight ends. Now, that did improve in Arizona against a strong TE in Trey McBride. The Packers have a good TE room. It will be important for the Lions to be able to handle the Packers TEs if they are to even sniff a victory in this game. The hope is that Jack Campbell will be able to limit them as he did with Trey McBride.
Give Goff and Gibbs Their Flowers
I found an interesting post this week from Detroit Lions PR stating that the “Lions are the first team in NFL history to produce the following through the first five games of a season. A QB with 1,400 passing yards and 12 passing TDs and a RB with 500 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs”. I couldn’t shy away from this offense. The reason I am so focused on this defense is that if the Lions can just get a bit more capable on defense, they can be right in the heat of the playoff race with their more than capable offense.
That’s all I have for you folks, look for more returning content this week as I bounce back!